Life is beautifully dynamic.
There are infinite possibilities, experiences, moments that stem from our privilege of choice.
Our daily, moment -to- moment choices intertwined with the free will and consequent decisions of those around us create a sea of circumstances filled with unmatched multiplicity as life unfolds.
There are times when the beauty of the moment is simply blissful and it is all we can go to revel in our experiences and deeply appreciate who we are and the richness of our journey.
Moments like these we immediately treasure. In these moments life feels amazing and our gratitude comes easy. In these moments it is easy for us to recognize God’s hand, feel fully immersed in the present and truly be joyful.
Thank God for these times! If they could last forever how pleasantly simple our journey would be.
However, for us all, reality is not colored with monochromatic bliss.
There are the days when we truly feel like we are at our lowest. There seems to be no light, or very dim at best and it is truly difficult to lift ourselves up out of the fog.
Our vision is blurry, we feel out of control.
What are we to do now?
We know we are supposed to take charge of our situation, navigate our path, brilliantly write our life story, get and keep it together! However, we may feel inadequate, we lose our compass, we drop the pen, it feels like life is slowly falling apart in chunks.
In those moments, on those days, we must dig deep to evoke resilience.
We have to look to our true source for strength.
We need to be reminded of His assurance of protection, unlimited supply and love.
It is worthwhile to keep these reassurances close, handy and in plain sight to allow us to operate from a place of strength even when we should naturally feel weak and crumble.
Here are some encouraging scriptural references to retain in our arsenal to reach for on those kinds of days:
All things work together for good, for them that love God and are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
He will keep us in perfect peace if our minds are focused on Him and trust Him. Isaiah 26:3
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not lack anything. Psalm 23:1
God is our refuge and strength, he is very present for us in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1
Trust in God with all your heart, not relying only on your understanding. In everything you do acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:5
The confidence we have in God is that whatsoever we ask according to His will in prayers He hears us and if He hears us our prayer will be answered. 1 John 5:14
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Psalm 28:7
Cast your burdens on the Lord and He will sustain you. Psalm 55:22
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
God will supply all our needs according to His riches in Glory. Philippians 4:19
Do not be anxious for anything but by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. Philippians 4:6
Bless the Lord and do not forget all his benefits. Psalm 103:2
Know that the Lord He is God. It is He that has made us and not we ourselves.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
These are some of the many profound reassurances we have that our faith, our thanksgiving, and our trust need to remain concentrated in and directed toward our God, our source.
In spite of everything, whatever is happening this must remain our consistent practice.
This is so difficult.
When you are faced with a scenario that threatens a complete downward spiral, it may be the last thing on our minds to shift our perspective higher.
The deep, truthful and yes, rational perspective that somehow we have to look upward.
We have to remember to look beyond ourselves and focus on our eternal source.
We must find a way to stay connected.
If life has taught us anything it is that we are not able to control every single detail.
Things will happen.
Problems will arise.
Difficulties will make you doubt and question.
You will feel fearful.
Your peace will be threatened.
There simply will be those days.
With that knowledge, it is wise then for us to prepare ourselves. Let us equip ourselves for those moments. When we are experiencing issues in real time in real life, wisdom does not always prevail. What may have seemed to be an obvious solution will not come to the fore so readily.
Verses of scripture like the ones above can be a powerful tool in our arsenal of defense.
A practical way forward may be to keep a visible reminder to refocus in our immediate environment - an image, a word, a phrase, a song, a reference of some kind. Whatever you are led to use, let us keep them close. Allow the truth of their message to anchor into our spirit so that when the “storms rage”, we are not completely lost and confused. Instead we will be encouraged, strengthened, affirmed and deeply thankful that even though "we do not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future."
It was my pleasure to share these thoughts today. The verses above although well known to me, by just reading them again in this moment – for me it has given the words a renewed power and a deeper meaning. I trust that these verses, declarations and whatever new practices you decide will best equip you for the heavier days will always be a powerful source of comfort and strength for you. Be blessed.
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